History by a Hair: Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, & Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery
Leah and Michael Weisberg Series on American History
Event Details:
A single strand of hair discovered inside Thomas Jefferson’s Bible sparked an extraordinary scientific investigation into one of the most enduring questions in American history: Did Thomas Jefferson father the children of Sally Hemings, one of the women he enslaved? Join the Smithsonian’s Richard Kurin to learn about the fifteen-year effort to answer that question, a scientific quest that used forensic analysis, genealogy, and archaeology. The result has the potential to reshape our understanding of Jefferson’s life, the legacy of slavery, and the complexities of America’s founding, and demonstrates how new scientific discoveries continue to transform our understanding of the past.
Richard Kurin is the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large, as well as the author, most recently, of History by a Hair: Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, & Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery.
Location:
The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream!
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Livestream tickets will be available until 5 pm the day of the program. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
Ticket Instructions:
By phone: Contact our call center at (212) 485-9268 from 9 am – 5 pm daily.
Online: Click on the button above.
In person: Purchase tickets on site at the admissions desk during Museum hours.
Chair's Council: Chair’s Council members may request complimentary tickets. To learn more, email chairscouncil@nyhistory.org.
Members: Sign in with your Member login on the next page to receive your discount. If you need a login or have any questions, contact the call center at (212) 485-9268 or call.center@nyhistory.org.
Advance registration is required to guarantee seating. All sales are final; refunds and exchanges are not permitted. Programs and dates are subject to change. Management reserves the right to refuse admission to latecomers. Program tickets do not include Museum admission unless otherwise noted.
For any questions, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
